Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic disease that affects an increasing number of children and adults. The skin is dry and irritated, and the itching can be so severe that it interferes with sleep and daily life. Although AD has been discussed for years, it is only now that scientists are beginning to understand exactly why the disease causes so much itching.

A team of students from the Student Scientific Association and researchers from Wroclaw Medical University and Medical University of Silesia in Katowice described in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences the so-called IL-31/IL-33 axis – a mechanism that drives inflammation and itching in atopic dermatitis.

Researchers at Kumamoto University have demonstrated that iron supplementation can significantly alleviate muscle pathology and functional decline in a mouse model of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a rare genetic muscle disease for which no effective treatment currently exists.

Multimorbidity is defined as the concurrent presence of two or more age-associated diseases within an individual, which often results in detrimental health outcomes. Immunosenescence, the gradual deterioration of the immune system associated with aging, constitutes a significant risk factor for the development of these conditions. Moreover, certain diseases may exacerbate immunosenescence, thereby establishing a self-perpetuating pathological cycle. This bidirectional interaction forms a complex pathological network that presents considerable challenges for both the investigation and prevention of multimorbidity. In light of these challenges, it is pertinent to consider whether a paradigm shift in research and intervention strategies—centered on protective factors or anti-aging mechanisms—could facilitate substantial advancements in this field. On October 13, 2025, a research team led by Associate Researcher Xiaolin Ni and Researcher Erping Long from the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences published an article entitled "Centenarians: a model of immune resilience against multimorbidity" in the journal Life Medicine. By examining the mechanistic interplay between immunosenescence and multimorbidity and referencing the unique immune profiles of centenarians, the authors proposed a novel systemic therapeutic paradigm termed IMET. This approach focuses on the modulation and restoration of the immune microenvironment, thereby offering innovative research directions and intervention strategies aimed at mitigating the burden of aging-related multimorbidity.